Windy city opens space on Great Lakes

Parks & Recreation, March, 2004

Almost six months after Soldier Field and the surrounding campus reopened in Chicago, Ill., it is still attracting millions of people to its waterfront location. With the spring and summer seasons approaching, the area (which includes the Chicago Bears' football stadium) will experience an influx of people who previously were cramped in smaller parks throughout Chicago.

Aside from the stadium, which is home to football games, concerts and special events, Soldier Field has always encompassed three museums including the Field Museum of Natural History, the Adler Planetarium and the John G. Shedd Aquarium. But the 70-acre site was never considered a recreational destination--unless you count parking spaces as an attraction.

So when the Chicago Park District embarked on Chicago's largest public works project in January 2002, it decided it was time to use its land for what it was meant for--people, not cars.

Part of the $606 million Lakefront Redevelopment Plan included building 2,500 parking spaces underground, thereby adding 17 acres of park and recreation land.

"Parking lots are really underutilized and kind of an eyesore," says Chicago Park District General Superintendent David Doig.

The new green space includes a children's garden, a 33-foot sledding hill, and a winter garden that features seasonal evergreen trees and shrubs, plants with berries and pedestrian-friendly walkways.

Doig says setting aside the open space is an example of a new wave of thinking for the Park District. Instead of designing manicured lawns and shrubbery that only encourage passive recreation, pathways, trails and open lawns are the new options for the district. And even though the district owns Soldier Field and reaps more than $10 million in annual income, it was not responsible for any up front costs of the renovation. The Chicago Bears and the Illinois Sports Facilities Authority paid for the 18-month project.

Since Soldier Field opened in September 2003, it has already hosted a variety of community events including a Halloween night. And once the weather improves, Soldier Fields' open space will be home to Chicago's races, marathons and other outdoor recreation events.

For more information about Solider Field, log on to its Web site, www.soldierfield.net.